• 07/23/2026

    A woman soldier was killed and four other service members were injured when a Czech Army UH-1Y Venom helicopter crashed while landing at the 22nd Helicopter Air Base in Náměšť nad Oslavou on Thursday. The aircraft was returning from a routine training flight and fell from a height of about 50 metres during its approach. The Czech military has grounded all Venom and Viper helicopters pending an investigation into the cause of the accident. President Petr Pavel expressed his condolences to the woman's family and her colleagues, saying he trusted the military to carry out a thorough investigation.   

  • 07/23/2026

    Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said he hopes Serbia will purchase Czech-made Aero L-39 Skyfox training aircraft following talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade. Babiš discussed the potential deal during a visit accompanied by Industry Minister Karel Havlíček and representatives of Czech companies, including aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody. He also highlighted opportunities to expand economic cooperation in sectors such as technology and healthcare. Both leaders described Czech-Serbian relations as strong and friendly, while Babiš said Czech companies are keen to increase their investments and business activities in Serbia.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 07/23/2026

    One person has died after a Czech military UH-1Y Venom helicopter crashed at the 22nd Helicopter Air Base in Náměšť nad Oslavou, according to emergency services. Five soldiers were on board the aircraft when it went down on Thursday. Rescue operations are continuing at the scene, and the Czech Army has not yet released further details about the circumstances of the crash. It said more information would be provided once the situation allows.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 07/23/2026

    Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka paid tribute on Thursday to the four Czech nationals who died in a boating collision near the Croatian city of Split in June. Together with his Croatian counterpart, Gordan Grlić Radman, he laid wreaths at the site where a Czech sailing boat sank after colliding with a passenger catamaran. The ministers observed a minute of silence and expressed support for the victims' families. Croatian authorities are continuing to investigate the accident. During his visit, Macinka also said the condition of a Czech woman struck by lightning on the island of Krk had stabilised slightly.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 07/23/2026

    Fuel prices in Czechia rose sharply over the past week after the government ended its three-month price cap on Monday. Diesel saw the biggest increase, climbing by 4.67 crowns to an average of 42.24 crowns per litre, while the price of Natural 95 petrol rose by 1.80 crowns to 42.04 crowns per litre. The government introduced the price cap in April following a spike in oil prices linked to fighting in the Middle East. Compared with a year ago, both petrol and diesel remain almost eight to nine crowns per litre more expensive.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 07/23/2026

    Friday will be partly cloudy with isolated light showers, mainly in the northeast, before clearing later in the day. Highs will reach 21 to 25 degrees Celsius, around 20 degrees in the north and northeast.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 07/23/2026

    Czechia has climbed from tenth to seventh place among EU countries in this year's Household Financial Health Index, its best result since the ranking was introduced in 2022. The improvement is driven mainly by exceptionally high household savings, with Czechs setting aside more than one-fifth of their income – the highest rate in the European Union. Analysts say the country has also made modest progress in reducing the burden of energy costs and increasing household investments, although both remain below the EU average. Denmark tops the ranking, followed by the Netherlands and Sweden, while Romania, Greece, Bulgaria and Slovakia occupy the bottom positions.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 07/23/2026

    President Petr Pavel has vetoed a controversial bill overhauling the Czech Republic's public budget rules, arguing that it would undermine the long-term sustainability of public finances and weaken parliamentary oversight in favour of the government. The legislation will return to the Chamber of Deputies, which is scheduled to vote on overriding the veto on 25 August. The governing coalition, which holds 108 seats, has said it has enough votes to overturn the president's decision, requiring a minimum of 101 votes.

    Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO) has defended the bill, saying it is needed to allow greater spending flexibility, particularly for defence and strategic infrastructure, and warning that without it next year's budget deficit would be significantly constrained.   

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 07/23/2026

    The Czech Republic will appoint new ambassadors to several key diplomatic posts in the coming weeks, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists) has confirmed. The first of 16 newly approved ambassadors are expected to take up their positions at the turn of July and August, with the remaining appointments to be completed by the end of the summer. Former foreign minister Jakub Kulhánek will become ambassador to the United States, moving from his current post as Czech ambassador to the United Nations. He is expected to be succeeded at the UN by outgoing National Security Adviser Hynek Kmoníček. New ambassadors will also be appointed to Italy and the OECD.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 07/23/2026

    The Czech Defence Ministry has quietly transferred its department for preparing civilians for crises and national defence from the ministry itself to the Armed Forces General Staff as part of a wider reorganisation. According to iRozhlas (part of Czech Radio) , the unit known as POKOS organises public lectures, training and educational activities aimed at improving defence awareness and basic emergency skills. The ministry says the move will improve coordination with military structures and increase efficiency. However, one defence expert told Czech Radio that placing the agenda under military rather than civilian leadership is conceptually flawed and weakens civilian oversight. At the same time, the ministry's press office is undergoing major staff changes, with three employees, including its head, leaving.

    Author: Vít Pohanka

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